We didn't write a letter to Congress today as part of Open Letters Blogburst. We really couldn't think of anything original to add to the heart-felt, exceptionally written and passionate letters we read there, particular the one by Jeanne D'Arc of Body and Soul.

Since last week, whenever we think of the upcoming attack on Iraq, a song keeps running through our head, and it's not one that is likely to sway any member of Congress.

So, instead of writing Congress, we thought we'd reprint the lyrics here. It was performed for the first time in 1965, but became an anthem after it was sung (following a legendary cheer) at Woodstock.

Since then, many have changed the lyrics to fit their particular cause. We invite you to fiddle with a few words in the comments section here, to make it "a case on point" for the war in Iraq.

The last verse before the final chorus is the one that resonates with us the most: both because of those we knew back then who didn't come home--and because as a parent with a son of draft age now, there is no way we could support a war with Iraq without an imminent, credible and well-documented threat to the United States--and concrete evidence Iraq has the capability to carry it out.

Country Joe & the Fish. "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixing-To-Die-Rag." (You can listen to it here.)

Yeah, come on all of you, big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on generals, let's move fast;
Your big chance has come at last.
Gotta go out and get those reds —
The only good commie is the one who's dead
And you know that peace can only be won
When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on Wall Street, don't move slow,
Why man, this is war au-go-go.
There's plenty good money to be made
By supplying the Army with the tools of the trade,
Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
They drop it on the Viet Cong.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on mothers throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on fathers, don't hesitate,
Send 'em off before it's too late.
Be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box.

And it's one, two, three
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

For a succinct, well-documented chronicle of anti-war efforts during the period of 1965-1975, we recommend this series from the BBC.

One other quote we found and appreciated:

"If you grew up in the 60s, you grew up with war on tv every night. A war that your friends were involved in...and I want to do this song tonight for all the young people, if you're in your teens... because I remember a lot of my friends when they we were 17 or 18, we didn't have much of a chance to think about how we felt about a lot of things. And the next time, they're gonna be looking at you, and you're gonna need a lot of information to know what you're gonna wanna do. Because in 1985, blind faith in your leaders, or in anything, will get you killed. Because what I'm talking about here is:
War!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing....

--Bruce Springsteen, introducing his band's rendition of "War" by Edwin Starr, Los Angeles, September, 1985.